Valpo hero Justus McNair a former teammate of MSU star Jeremy Fears Jr.
EAST LANSING — It may not be March, but there was madness in the air Friday, Nov. 6, as Valparaiso downed Purdue in double overtime at Mackey Arena. And the player who scored the game-winning shot is one quite familiar to Michigan State's point guard. With all of 0.1 seconds on the clock, Valparaiso guard Justus McNair pulled up for a buzzer-beating 3 that sunk Purdue, 83-80, in double overtime. The Joliet, Ill., native played high school ball at Joliet West with Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who gave his old teammate some love on social media after Friday's feat. Fears tagged the video of McNair's big shot on his Instagram story, captioning it with peeking eye emojis. Jeremy Fears Jr. showing some love on Instagram for his old Joliet West teammate and Valpo hero Justus McNair, whose buzzer-beater downed Purdue. @detroitnews pic.twitter.com/a5VGOI3Ln4 — Connor Earegood (@ConnorEaregood) November 7, 2026 Fears and McNair played together at Joliet West during Fears' senior year, when he returned to his hometown school after a two-year stint at La Lumiere to play one season with his younger brother, Jeremiah, who is now in his second year with the New Orleans Pelicans who